The Philadelphia Phillies made a major decision about the future of the team regarding Bryce Harper. On Wednesday, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced that Harper will be the team’s first baseman going forward. In addition, Dombrowski mentioned that Harper’s fellow Silver Slugger finalist Kyle Schwarber will be the Phillies’ primary designated hitter. As a result of these decisions, it appears that Rhys Hoskins will not be returning to the Phillies. It is unfortunate to see Hoskins’ time with the Phillies end this way, but it is not unexpected. Things have been trending this way for most of the 2023 season especially after Hoskins suffered a season-ending injury in spring training.
Bryce Harper will be the Phillies’ everyday 1B going forward, per GM Dave Dombrowski. pic.twitter.com/DvAVWD2er4
— MLB (@MLB) November 8, 2023
The Implications After The Phillies’ Major Decision on Bryce Harper
There is now an open spot in the Phillies outfield. In all likelihood, Johan Rojas will start the 2024 season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. As a result, expect the Phillies to pursue an outfielder in free agency. Another potential option for the Phillies is starting Cristian Pache alongside Brandon Marsh and Nick Castellanos in the outfield. If the Phillies choose to go in this direction, it is a sign that the team thinks Rojas can make the needed adjustments at the plate and become a starter by the end of next season. It is more likely that Marsh moves back to center field rather than staying in left field. However, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Marsh stays in left field if the Phillies acquire someone who is more of a center fielder than a corner outfielder.
Who The Phillies Could Pursue For the Outfield
Cody Bellinger
Of the outfielders available in free agency, Cody Bellinger is the best of them all. This past season with the Chicago Cubs, Bellinger had a career resurgence. In 130 games, Bellinger had a .307/.356/.525 line with 26 home runs and 97 RBI. He also had a career-high 20 stolen bases. The Spotrac free agency tracker estimates that Bellinger has a market value of around $22 million per year. As a result, there is going to be a lot of competition to sign Bellinger. Money is not a problem for the Phillies, as owner John Middleton is willing to open the checkbook to build a winning team. Although signing Bellinger would lead to an imbalance with the Phillies batting order having so many left-handed hitters, it is not a major issue.
Juan Soto
There are constantly rumors going around about the Phillies trading for Juan Soto. This is in part because of the connections Soto has with the Phillies. While he played for the Washington Nationals, current Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long was on the Nationals staff for some of that time. Another connection is that Soto and Schwarber were teammates on the 2021 Nationals. The Phillies should call the San Diego Padres and ask about Soto. In 162 games this season, Soto had a .275/.410/.519 line with 35 home runs and 109 RBI. In addition, he led the majors in walks with 132. While Soto is not the greatest defensive player, his offensive value is too good to pass up.
Mike Trout
If the Phillies were to bring Mike Trout home in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels it would be a popular move with fans. The one major concern with Trout is his injury history and constant stints on the injured list during the second half of seasons. Over the course of the last three seasons, Trout has played in a combined 237 games. In 82 games last season, Trout had a .263/.367/.490 line with 18 home runs and 44 RBI. However, Trout is one of the best players on the planet, having made the All-Star team in every season except for his rookie season and the 2020 season where there was no All-Star Game. As a three-time MVP, Trout is a virtual lock for the Hall of Fame and many want to see him play for his hometown Phillies.
Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
